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Introduction to Linux - A Hands on Guide

This guide was created as an overview of the Linux Operating System, geared toward new users as an exploration tour and getting started guide, with exercises at the end of each chapter.
For more advanced trainees it can be a desktop reference, and a collection of the base knowledge needed to proceed with system and network administration. This book contains many real life examples derived from the author's experience as a Linux system and network administrator, trainer and consultant. They hope these examples will help you to get a better understanding of the Linux system and that you feel encouraged to try out things on your own.

Ok, I just installed Red Hat 9 last week and I want to know how exactly I install something. Through the GUI i know I can click on an RMP and it installes. However, how do I control the directory it installs to? I've installed Netscape, Netbeans, and a couple of other applications so far and I haven't been able to find where the heck they installed! Any help is appreciated.

Also, what passes for an executable file on Linux? I've been able to see that "rpm" is an install file and "sh" is like a "bat" file. (I think>) Does anyone know anything that can help?

you don't control the directory an rpm installs into - it's pre-packaged so that you don't need to know - you can run a query on what the package contains, paths it installs to etc

man rpm

to specify the installation path of an application you would need to compile it from source and install it with a specific install path

*nix has two types of files ascii and binary, any ascii file can be made executable, shell scripts (an executable text file) is exaclty like a batch file albeit a hell of a lot more powerful and flexable. The extension does not matter per se
All either of them really are is a collection of commands written in a language understood by the native shell, be that dos or bash or korn or c etc etc
(overly simplistic but you get the idea)